diff --git a/infomate/settings.py b/infomate/settings.py
index f94b332..5d22dbf 100644
--- a/infomate/settings.py
+++ b/infomate/settings.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from random import random
 import sentry_sdk
 from sentry_sdk.integrations.django import DjangoIntegration
 
-DEBUG = True
+DEBUG = os.getenv("DEBUG", True)
 
 BASE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
 SECRET_KEY = "wow so secret"
@@ -103,6 +103,9 @@ AUTH_FAILED_REDIRECT_URL = "https://vas3k.ru/auth/login/"
 
 SENTRY_DSN = None
 
+MEDIA_UPLOAD_URL = "https://i.vas3k.ru/upload/"
+MEDIA_UPLOAD_CODE = None  # should be set in private_settings.py
+
 try:
     # poor mans' private settings
     from infomate.private_settings import *
diff --git a/scripts/initialize.py b/scripts/initialize.py
index 34605d4..0bdab36 100644
--- a/scripts/initialize.py
+++ b/scripts/initialize.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import os
 import sys
 import django
+
+from utils.images import upload_image_from_url
+
 BASE_DIR = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "..")
 sys.path.append(BASE_DIR)
 os.environ.setdefault("DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE", "infomate.settings")
@@ -133,6 +136,8 @@ def initialize(config, board_slug):
                     if not icon:
                         icon = find_favicon(feed_url, html)
                         print(f"- found favicon: {icon}")
+                        icon = upload_image_from_url(icon)
+                        print(f"- uploaded favicon: {icon}")
 
                     feed.icon = icon
 
diff --git a/utils/images.py b/utils/images.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e1505e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/images.py
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+import io
+import logging
+import os
+from urllib.parse import urlparse
+
+import requests
+from django.conf import settings
+
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+def upload_image_from_url(url):
+    if not url:
+        return None
+
+    image_name = os.path.basename(urlparse(url).path)
+    if "." not in image_name:
+        image_name += ".jpg"
+
+    try:
+        image_data = io.BytesIO(requests.get(url).content)
+    except requests.exceptions.RequestException:
+        return None
+
+    try:
+        uploaded = requests.post(
+            url=settings.MEDIA_UPLOAD_URL,
+            params={
+                "code": settings.MEDIA_UPLOAD_CODE
+            },
+            files={
+                "media": (image_name, image_data)
+            }
+        )
+    except requests.exceptions.RequestException:
+        return None
+    finally:
+        image_data.close()
+
+    if 200 <= uploaded.status_code <= 299:
+        try:
+            response_data = uploaded.json()
+        except Exception as ex:
+            log.exception(f"Error uploading avatar: {ex}")
+            return None
+
+        return response_data["uploaded"][0]
+
+    return None